
I have been saving hashbrowns 5 pound plastic bags to recycle them into a crocheted basket. I saved 5 bags and cut them into plastic bag yarn or plarn. Because the bags are made from thick plastic, I cut one long continuous strip about 1/2 inch wide. I joined the strips together with a knot which I then just hid within my stitches as I worked the basket.
Each bag cut in a single 1/2 inch wide strand equals 23 yards of plarn. When I started this project I had 5 bags cut up and began crocheting the basket using my small recycled plastic basket pattern. Here is the link to crochet the project

Here is a new crochet pattern for a mini 6 inch long Christmas stocking. This pattern uses the waistcoat stitch. I love the look of this stitch as it appears to be a knitted sock when it is really crocheted. Here is a link to a waistcoat stitch tutorial to help demonstrate how to crochet this knit-look stitch. I also found doing graph images can add a nice touch to a crocheted waistcoat stocking.
I have been practicing this stitch and I must say it is a bit hard to master. It is very dense and finding the V space to crochet into can be difficult. I found a larger crochet hook helps and crocheting in bright light makes it easier too. One important tip to pass along is to go slow and have patience as you crochet this stitch. I also found that the more I practiced the stitch, the better I became so keep at it if you find it difficult.
In working the heel in waistcoat stitch, you have to cut the yarn for each row. I found in future stockings I crocheted that it was easier to work the heel in regular single crochet stitches. It also helps so the heel isn’t so pointy looking. I have included both options below in the written pattern. So if you want to do the whole stocking in the traditional waistcoat stitch you can or use option 2 below.
Waistcoat Mini Christmas stocking pattern
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5-1/2 to 6 inch Mini Christmas Stocking
H (5 mm) crochet hook – 1 ounce of medium weight yarn (50-52 yards)
Chain 3 and join to form circle or you can use a magic circle.

I ordered 3 skeins of this cool red and blue marble United Caron yarn on-line through a close-out sale. I thought it would be perfect to crochet a lapghan for the Warmth for Warriors blanket drive.
I crocheted this lapghan using the wavy ripple lapghan pattern and chained 107 stitches to start to make a blanket that was 34 inches wide. I crocheted using an
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